Eleanor Holmes Norton, Washington’s long-serving delegate in Congress, was scammed out of thousands of dollars on Thursday, D.C. police confirmed to POLITICO.
A public police report said the 88-year-old Norton’s credit card was charged with over $4,000 for services at her home. The incident was reported by Jacqueline Pelt, a longtime aide and Norton ally, who is listed in the report as living at Norton’s home.
Pelt “did not authorize any work to be performed” at Norton’s house, the report said, and cancelled Norton’s credit cards after discovering they’d been charged.
The incident was first reported by NBC4 Washington, the broadcaster’s affiliate in the nation’s capital. The station also obtained an internal police report stating multiple suspects arrived at Norton’s house posing as HVAC workers.
The internal report described Norton as having “early stages of dementia” and characterized Pelt as a caretaker with power of attorney for Norton. POLITICO has not independently verified the details in the internal police report.
Norton’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment to POLITICO. But in a statement to NBC4, her office said “the medical diagnosis included in the police report was based on an assumption the reporting officer was unqualified to make.”
The statement also said that Norton does not have a caretaker, but “a longtime employee and friend serves as the house manager, residing at a separate address.”
The incident raises further questions about Norton’s fitness for public office, despite repeatedly saying she will seek reelection next year.
Her absence from the public eye amid President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Washington was noted by close allies, including Donna Brazile, a longtime political adviser who called on Norton to retire in a Washington Post op-ed last month.
If she does follow through with her campaign, Norton would face her strongest primary challenge yet. D.C. Council members Brooke Pinto and Robert White have both announced campaigns to unseat Norton, whose campaign has raised little money, according to the most recent campaign finance reports.
